Yes, The Network Fabric in IBM PureSystems Is Interoperable With Existing Network Infrastructures

Since the recent introduction of IBM PureSystems with network components developed by System Networking, clients are expressing great interest in the advantages of Expert Integrated Systems. One of their first questions is invariably: “Will IBM networks work with my existing data center and core network infrastructures?”

The answer is a resounding YES. When deploying an IBM PureFlex or PureApplication System, IBM’s standards-based approach to system networking ensures interoperability with existing network infrastructures across the edge, aggregation layer and core. Data centers with equipment from Cisco, Juniper and other network providers can benefit immediately – without any fear that IBM is somehow endeavoring to foist a “rip and replace” Trojan Horse strategy on our valued client.

IBM’s Standards-Based Approach – Our mature and battle-tested IBM Networking OS is developed based on a standards-compliant philosophy driven by IBM’s leadership role in key international standards bodies, such as the IEEE, IETF and Open Networking Foundation.

Certified Cisco Interoperability – Our clients in the world’s largest enterprise, financial services and cloud operators, know that network topologies implemented using our gear will work flawlessly with Cisco infrastructures. IBM System Networking products have been certified by The Tolly Group to deliver interoperability with Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switches. IBM and Juniper Networks recently collaborated to test the new IBM PureFlex System with Juniper products to build and run a cloud-based data center.

Administrator-Friendly Operation – A common IBM Networking OS runs on IBM Ethernet products across our IBM PureSystems, BladeCenter, and RackSwitch lines. IBM system and network management tools such as Tivoli work with IBM Networking Element Manager. And, a Cisco-like command line interface is familiar to any Cisco-trained administrator.

Proven Worldwide – With more than 14 million Ethernet switch ports connecting servers, storage and core networks, IBM System Networking has emerged as one of the industry’s foremost, innovative and focused data center networking providers. We estimate that nearly two million IBM switch ports are working with Cisco aggregation and core networks today in the world’s largest and most demanding network environments. Beyond the already significant performance, low latency and energy efficiency advantages delivered by IBM System Networking solutions, our clients know they can have a multi-vendor approach to data center networking, if that is what best suits their need.

Bottom line, clients will implement IBM PureSystems to harness the flexibility of a general-purpose system, the elasticity of cloud and the simplicity of an appliance tuned to the workload. However, as they move to fundamentally change the experience and economics of IT, they do not want to rip and replace their existing investment in networking or implement a proprietary fabric architecture that only works with a single vendor’s components.

Those are simply the realities of data center networking today. And, that’s why IBM has invested in ensuring that Expert Integrated Systems implemented with IBM networking are purpose built for the needs of the modern data center –interoperable, fast, intelligent, virtual and tuned to the task.

In a coming post, I’ll drill down into just how to implement an IBM PureSystems network to achieve the greatest performance and latency advantages.